Alteration on chess facilitating stacking

ABSTRACT

This invention is an alteration on the ancient game of chess and allows for the stacking of various pieces upon each other. This stacking of pieces upon each other enables the combined pieces (called a stack) to move as a cohesive whole with either the combined movements of the contributing pieces or else in some augmented fashion. Enhanced game rules control the more complicated piece interactions. Some of the pieces have two parallel flat faces to facilitate stacking. Some of these pieces may be of different thicknesses so as to facilitate easy recognition of the type of piece. Some of the pieces may have markings upon the top and/or the sides so as to facilitate easy recognition of the type of piece.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to chess type games.

2. Description of Prior Art

Chess is a board game played by two players each with a set of pieces. One set is usually dark, the other light. Each player begins with 8 pawns, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 2 rooks, 1 king and 1 queen. Beginning with light each player takes turns to move one of their pieces until checkmate or stalemate is reached, or one player resigns. The board is an 8 by 8 series of square spaces of alternating color.

This invention relates most directly to chess but also slightly to checkers. Both chess and checkers have existed for hundreds of years. Checkers is similarly a board game played by two players each with a set of pieces. In checkers the board is the same as in chess. In checkers, however, the pieces are generally cylindrical so as to facilitate stacking. In addition when two pieces are placed one above the other, the resultant stack is called a king which moves as a cohesive whole and has augmented movement capabilities.

Many games have been invented which attempt to improve the ancient game of chess. New pieces with altered movement and capturing characteristics have been employed in games such as the one specified in U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,602 and others. Other games employ stacking of pieces for three dimensional gameplay such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,806,125. These and other alterations upon the game of chess bear witness to the need for a new and more complicated chess-like experience.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention provides an alteration on the ancient game of chess. A series of amendments upon the rules and pieces of chess may allow for the stacking of various pieces upon each other. This stacking of pieces upon each other may enable the combined pieces (called a stack) to move as a cohesive whole with either the combined movements of the contributing pieces or else in some augmented fashion. Enhanced game rules control the more complicated piece interactions.

Another aspect of the invention provides a game which combines the game of chess with some features of checkers as well as original content. The unique combination of stacking pieces for movement augmentation, with some traditional aspects of chess may allow for a challenging new board game experience.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a standard chess board and pieces set up for the start of the game.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the basic positional movement and capturing movement of the pawn.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing the basic positional movement and capturing movement of the knight.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing the basic positional movement and capturing movement of the bishop.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view showing the basic positional movement and capturing movement of the rook.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view showing the basic positional movement and capturing movement of the queen.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing the basic positional movement and capturing movement of the king.

FIG. 8A is a side elevation view of stack 1.

FIG. 8B is a top plan view showing the basic positional movement and capturing movement of stack 1.

FIG. 9A is a side elevation view of stack 2.

FIG. 9B is a top plan view showing the basic positional movement and capturing movement of stack 2.

FIG. 10A is a side elevation view of stack 3.

FIG. 10B is a top plan view showing the basic positional movement and capturing movement of stack 3.

FIG. 11A is a side elevation view of stack 4.

FIG. 11B is a top plan view showing the basic positional movement and capturing movement of stack 4.

FIG. 12A is a side elevation view of stack 5.

FIG. 12B is a top plan view showing the basic positional movement and capturing movement of stack 5.

FIGS. 13A-13G show basic stack assembly.

FIG. 13A is a top plan view showing several individual pieces.

FIG. 13B is a side elevation view of stack 6, which was formed by the movement of the knight onto the bishop.

FIG. 13C is a top plan view of several individual pieces and stack 6.

FIG. 13D is a side elevation view of stack 7, which was formed by the movement of the rightmost pawn (shown in FIG. 13C) above stack 6 (shown in FIG. 13C).

FIG. 13E is a top plan view of two individual pieces and stack 7.

FIGS. 13F-13G show an alternate stack formation possibility beginning from FIG. 13C.

FIG. 13F is a side elevation view of stack 8, which was formed by the movement of stack 7 (shown in FIG. 13C) above the rook (shown in FIG. 13C).

FIG. 13G is a top plan view of two individual pieces and stack 8.

FIGS. 14A-14 E show the basic procedure for capturing a stack.

FIG. 14A is a side elevation view of stack 9.

FIG. 14B is a side elevation view of stack 10.

FIG. 14C is a top plan view of stacks 9 and 10.

FIG. 14D is a side elevation view of the conglomerate 11, composed of stack 9 and an inert knight of the other player held ‘under guard’. The conglomerate 11 was formed when stack 9 (shown in FIG. 14C) captured stack 10 (shown in FIG. 14C).

FIG. 14E is a top plan view of the conglomerate 11.

FIGS. 15A-15H show the basic procedure to disassemble a stack.

FIG. 15A is a side elevation view of stack 12.

FIG. 15B is a top plan view of an individual piece and stack 12.

FIG. 15C is a side elevation view of stack 13, which was formed when the pawn in stack 12 (shown in FIG. 15B) moved off of the rest of stack 12.

FIG. 15D is a top plan view of two individual pieces and stack 13.

FIGS. 15E-15F show an alternate stack disassembly possibility beginning from FIG. 15B.

FIG. 15E is a side elevation view of stack 14, which was formed when the pawn and bishop in stack 12 (shown in FIG. 15B) moved off of the remaining piece of stack 12.

FIG. 15F is a top plan view of two individual pieces and stack 14.

FIGS. 15G-15H show an alternate stack disassembly possibility beginning from FIG. 15B.

FIG. 15G is a side elevation view of stack 15, which was formed when the pawn and bishop in stack 12 (shown in FIG. 15B) moved above the individual knight (shown in FIG. 15B) and off of the remaining piece of stack 12.

FIG. 15H is a top plan view of an individual piece and stack 15.

FIGS. 16A-16E show the basic procedure to release an inert piece held ‘under guard’ by the player whose piece(s) is ‘under guard’ recapturing the space.

FIG. 16A is a side elevation view of stack 16.

FIG. 16B is a side elevation view of the conglomerate 17.

FIG. 16C is a top plan view of stack 16 and the conglomerate 17.

FIG. 16D is a side elevation view of conglomerate 18, which was formed when stack 16 captured the space occupied by conglomerate 17.

FIG. 16E is a top plan view of the conglomerate 18.

FIGS. 17A-17D show the augmented capturing characteristic of two bishops.

FIG. 17A is a side elevation view of stack 19.

FIG. 17B is a side elevation view of stack 20.

FIG. 17C is a top plan view of stacks 19 and 20.

FIG. 17D is a top plan view of stack 19 after it captured stack 20 (shown in FIG. 17C).

FIG. 18 is a side elevation view of a pile of four pieces.

FIG. 19A is a top plan view of a pawn. The top is plain 23 to distinguish the type of piece from the top.

FIG. 19B is a side elevation view of a pawn, with smaller thickness than that of the knight (FIG. 20B), distinguishing the type of piece from the side.

FIG. 20A is a top plan view of a knight, with marking 24 distinguishing the type of piece from the top.

FIG. 20B is a side elevation view of a knight, with marking 25 distinguishing the type of piece from the side.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be further appreciated when considered with reference to the following description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements in describing the preferred embodiments, specific terminology will be used for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms used, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. In the drawings, specific letters are used to identify particular game pieces as follows:

The letter “P” identifies a pawn. The letter “N” identifies a knight. The letter “B” identifies a bishop. The letter “R” identifies a rook. The letter “Q” identifies a queen. The letter “K” identifies a king.

Board and Pieces:

The board may be the same as in standard chess as shown, for example, in FIG. 1. Preferably, some of the pieces may have a modified form in which they may have two parallel flat faces for the purpose of facilitating stacking. The shape of the pieces may be cylindrical but need not be necessarily.

Preferably, the pawns P may have a lesser thickness than the knight N, bishop B, and rook R as shown in FIGS. 19B and 20B. This is for the ease of distinguishing the pawns P from all other pieces but may also give symbolic representation of the lesser importance of the pawn P. The pawn P may remain blank on the top, bottom, and sides as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B. This also distinguishes the pawn P from the other types of pieces.

The knight N, bishop B, and rook R may have greater thickness than the pawn P, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 19B and 20B. Their thickness is relative to one another may or may not be specified, but may likely be the same. Preferably the knight N, bishop B, and rook R have a distinguishing marking upon their top face which will distinguish their type as shown, for example, in FIG. 20A. Markings may also be placed upon the sides of the knight N, bishop B, and rook R to identify the type of piece when stacked, as shown, for example, in FIG. 20B.

The form of the king K and queen Q is not specified, but may either be similar to those of standard chess or may also have two parallel flat faces. If they are given a form with two parallel flat faces they may preferably both have at least a top marking, if not also side marking(s).

The pieces may be divided between players. The pieces of each player may have distinguishing color to show which piece belongs to which player.

Basic Rules:

In a preferred embodiment, the pieces may be set up on the game board as in standard chess, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1. The two players may alternate making moves. Each player must move, if possible, when it is their turn or else they forfeit the game. The lighter color player may be the first to make a move. Individually, all pieces may move the same as in standard chess.

Certain pieces may move onto other spaces which contain other stackable pieces of the same color. Preferably, the pieces which may be stacked are the pawn P, the knight N, the bishop B, and the rook R. By moving 2 or 3 of these pieces of the same player above one another, a stack may be formed. Once a stack has been formed, it may move as a cohesive whole, with the movements of any of the pieces contained within the stack as in FIGS. 8B, 9B, 10B, 11B, and 12B. For example, if a stack contains a knight N and a bishop B, the entire stack may move as the knight N (see FIG. 3) and ‘jump’ over occupied spaces, but if the player chooses to move the stack with a bishops' movement (see FIG. 4) then the stack cannot ‘jump’.

In a preferred embodiment, the king K and queen Q may never be part of a stack, nor may it be legal to move any piece above either the king K or queen Q. It may also not be legal to move a king K or queen Q onto any occupied space unless it is to capture that space from the other player. Likewise, it may not be allowable to form a pile of more than three stackable pieces unless recapturing a space from the other player. Thus, a stack of two may not be moved above another stack of two, or a stack of three be moved above a single stackable piece, or a single piece be moved above a stack of three, etc., unless in the act of recapturing a space from the other player.

To assemble a stack, a player may only move a piece or stack directly above another piece or stack by the movements immediately available to that piece or stack which is being moved, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 13A-13G. Therefore, a single pawn P may not move like a knight N to move onto a knight N. The pawn P may instead move as a pawn P, as shown, for example, in FIG. 2. The pawn P may only use its positional movement to move onto any space controlled by a piece of the same player. Note that a positional move is a move which does not capture. Once a stack is formed, pieces may preferably remain in the order they are stacked in, unless disassembled and then restacked in a different order.

To disassemble a stack or pile, it may be legal to move any piece or pieces off the top of the stack, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 15A-15H. It is generally not allowable to move a piece(s) out from under another piece(s). A pile may be 4 or more pieces of the same player occupying the same space at the same time (FIG. 18), or a king K or queen Q above 1 or more pieces of the same player at the same time. A pile may preferably be formed when recapturing a space. A pile may preferably not move as a cohesive whole, but instead up to the three uppermost pieces may move off the top, unless a queen Q or king K is the uppermost piece and then preferably the king K or queen Q may be moved.

If two pawns P are in the same stack, then the stack may gain additional positional and capturing movement options. A stack containing 2 pawns P (FIGS. 8B, 9B) may move without capturing: 1 space forward, backwards, to the right or to the left. A stack containing 2 pawns P (FIGS. 8B, 9B) may capture 1 space in any of the four diagonal directions. A stack of 3 pawns P (FIG. 10B) may make a positional movement: 1 space forward, backwards, to the right, to the left, or in any of the four diagonal directions. A stack of 3 pawns P (FIG. 10B) may make a capturing movement: 1 space forward, backwards, to the right, to the left, or in any of the four diagonal directions. Note that a piece may make a positional movement onto any space which has a non-“under guard” opposition piece present. Note that a piece may never make a capturing movement onto any space that does not contain at least one piece of the other player not “under guard”.

Capturing any single piece may be the same as in standard chess. Generally, however, when a player captures a stack or pile, only the upper most piece of the opposing player may be captured and thus removed from the board, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 14A-14E. The other piece(s) may be moved under the capturing piece or stack and may be in an inert state called being “under guard” (FIGS. 14D, 16B, and 16D). There may be two ways for a player to capture an entire stack or pile and thus remove all pieces in the stack or pile from the board. The first is to capture with a king K or queen Q. Kings K and queens Q generally always capture the entire stack or pile, and thus may never hold a piece or pieces under guard. The second may be if a stack containing 2 knights N, 2 bishops B, or 2 rooks R, makes the capture using the movement of the piece which has 2, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 17A-17D. Therefore, if a stack that has 2 knights N and a rook R, in any configuration, attacks a stack or pile using the knight's movement, the entire stack or pile may be captured and removed from the board. If, however, the same stack that is composed of 2 knights N and a rook R, in any configuration, attacks using the rook's movement, then only the top piece in the opposing player's stack or pile may be captured and the rest may be placed “under guard”.

When a player puts another player's piece(s) “under guard,” the first player may not move the other player's piece(s), even if that player chooses to move all of their piece(s) off of the space. Piece(s) that are “under guard” may not be capable of positional or capturing movement, unless released. The pieces “under guard” may be released by the player holding them “under guard,” moving all of the players pieces off of the space. The other way to release a piece(s) held “under guard” may be to recapture the space, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 16A-16E. This may be done by one player capturing the piece or stack which previously had control of the space. When this occurs, all remaining pieces of the player who recaptured the space may shift above all of the other players remaining pieces. This may include all pieces which were previously “under guard.” The order from top to bottom of each player's piece(s) may remain the same with the recapturing piece or stack being on top of everything.

Other rules such as castling are identical to standard chess. Preferably, so long as the rook R and king K have not moved from the beginning of the game, they may castle. This may apply even if some other stackable piece or pieces stack on top of the rook R. Checking may similarly be the same as in chess. You may never move so as to put yourself into check. This may include releasing another player's pieces held “under guard.” It is also important to note that since pieces that are “under guard” may not capture, they may not put a king K in check while “under guard.” So long as a pawn P has not moved from the beginning of the game, then it may move two spaces forward if positional movement permits. This may preferably apply even if some other stackable piece or pieces stack on top of the pawn P. In such a case, a stack may move two spaces forward. En passant is also the same as in chess. Any stack that contains a pawn P may perform this move if the proper circumstances exist. Note that if the pawn P that moved two spaces forward was part of a stack, then preferably only the top piece in that stack may be taken by en passant.

Unlike chess, a pawn P may not be exchanged for a different piece upon reaching the back row. Instead, if the king K makes it to the back row of the other player, any pawn P (not “under guard”) may be exchanged for a knight N, bishop B, or rook R. This may include pawns P that are inactive because they have a king K, queen Q, or 3 or more stackable pieces above them. To exchange a second pawn P, the king K may preferably make it back to the starting row and upon reaching it another viable pawn P may be exchanged. To get the third pawn P, the king K may need to once again reach the other player's back row. To get the forth, the king K may come back again, etc. If the king K reaches the far row and does not exchange a pawn P for anything, then the king K may act as if the exchange did occur and may preferably cross to the other side again to get another exchange.

Also unlike chess if a pawn P has not moved from the beginning of the game, then it may move one space to either side if positional movement permits. This may preferably apply even if some other stackable piece or pieces stack on top of the pawn P.

Possible Additional Rules:

1. In another preferred embodiment, piles can be formed without capturing.

2. In yet another embodiment, when a king K reaches the far row, a pawn P may be exchanged for a knight N, bishop B, rook R, or two pawns P. A pawn P may be exchanged at a location that causes the formation of a pile.

3. In addition Queens Q may be able to stack.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A stacking type chess game apparatus comprising: A) a plurality of chess pieces, at least some of which have at least two parallel flat faces configured so as to facilitate stacking of said pieces upon one another; B) wherein some of said pieces have different thicknesses between the two parallel flat faces than others of the pieces, so as to identify the type of piece.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein some or all of said pieces bear a marking or markings upon at least one of said parallel flat faces to identify the type of piece.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein some or all of said pieces bear a marking or markings upon one or both flat faces, thereby identifying the type of piece.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a board containing a plurality of shapes of contrasting colors.
 5. A method of playing a stacking type chess game, the method comprising the steps of: A) dividing a plurality of pieces into different types, each type with a unique set of movement and capturing characteristics; wherein said pieces are able to move and capture individually; B) stacking one piece upon another piece to form a cohesive whole; wherein said cohesive whole has the movement and capturing characteristics of each of the separate pieces contained therein.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein when some pieces of the same type are in the same stack, the stack may gain additional movement or capturing characteristics not necessarily present within the individual pieces comprising the stack.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of: stacking the pieces, so that each piece or stack uses its own movement characteristics to assemble or expand a stack.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of: assembling stacks of pieces such that pieces and stacks are moved above another piece or stack to assemble or expand a stack.
 9. The method of claim 5, wherein each stack contains a maximum of three pieces per stack.
 10. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of: disassembling a stack so that a piece or stack may only be moved off the top of a stack or pile.
 11. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of: capturing a stack so that only the top piece is removed from the board and all pieces below the top piece become temporarily inert.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of: releasing inert pieces with pieces of the other player above them, when either: A) all pieces of another player are moved off of the inert piece or pieces, or B) the space is recaptured by another piece of the player whose piece or pieces were inert.
 13. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of dividing a plurality of pieces into different types comprises 8 pawns, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 2 rooks, 1 king and 1 queen per player, each with similar movement and capturing characteristics as in standard chess.
 14. The method of claim 5, further comprising: providing each player with one king, wherein if a player's king is placed in checkmate, then that player looses, and wherein no piece of the same player may be moved above the king.
 15. The method of claim 5, wherein the game is played by two players.
 16. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of: A) disassembling a stack whereby a piece or stack may only be moved off the top of the stack; and B) providing each player with one king wherein if a player's king is placed in checkmate, then that player looses, and no piece of the same player may be moved above the king.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of pieces include 8 pawns, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 2 rooks, 1 king and 1 queen per player, each with similar movement and capturing characteristics as in standard chess; and further comprising the step of a player losing if the player's king is placed in checkmate, and no piece of the same player may be moved above the king. 